- Here’s your merged and deduplicated list, now grouped into logical SEO categories so it’s easier to work through in a structured way:
1. Technical SEO
☐ Install and configure a top-rated SEO plugin (e.g., Rank Math, Yoast, AIOSEO) and follow its setup wizard.
☐ Ensure your site is indexable (Settings → Reading → “Search Engine Visibility” unchecked).
☐ Enable HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate.
☐ Switch to a fast, reliable hosting provider.
☐ Optimize site speed: enable caching, use a lightweight theme, and minimize bloat.
☐ Use a CDN for faster global load times.
☐ Enable GZIP compression.
☐ Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files.
☐ Enable lazy loading for images and videos.
☐ Fix Core Web Vitals issues (LCP, FID, CLS) using PageSpeed Insights.
☐ Reduce unnecessary plugins and themes.
☐ Disable unused WordPress features that create thin content (e.g., date archives).
☐ Limit product variations per page to improve load time.
☐ Keep site structure flat to minimize clicks to purchase.
☐ Maintain a clean robots.txt file and allow crawling of important pages.
☐ Set canonical URLs to prevent duplicate content issues.
☐ Audit and fix crawl errors in Google Search Console.
☐ Fix broken links and set up 301 redirects for changed or removed pages.
☐ Regularly back up your site.
☐ Keep WordPress core, plugins, and themes updated.
☐ Run regular site health checks via WordPress Site Health.
2. On-Page SEO
☐ Optimize page titles and meta descriptions with target keywords for every key page, category, and product.
☐ Use short, descriptive, keyword-rich URLs without unnecessary words or IDs.
☐ Compress and optimize images (e.g., WebP) with descriptive filenames and keyword-rich alt text.
☐ Use proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) with relevant keywords.
☐ Write unique, keyword-rich product descriptions (avoid manufacturer text).
☐ Add keyword-rich, unique content to category pages.
☐ Use product videos to boost engagement and conversions.
☐ Add FAQs to product and category pages for snippet opportunities.
☐ Review and ensure outbound links point to high-quality sources.
☐ Noindex low-value pages (tags, thin content, archives, thank-you pages).
☐ Add structured data/schema markup for products, reviews, and store details.
☐ Add internal links from high-authority pages to important pages.
☐ Organize products into clear, relevant categories and tags.
☐ Use breadcrumb navigation for better UX and crawlability.
☐ Display store hours, shipping details, and return policies clearly.
☐ Add a contact page and an about page.
3. Content & Keywords
☐ Perform keyword research (buyer-intent, informational, and LSI keywords).
☐ Create high-quality, informative blog content targeting long-tail keywords and customer questions.
☐ Refresh and update older content, product descriptions, and images.
☐ Create pillar pages for key topics with internal links to detailed articles.
☐ Respond to blog comments to maintain engagement.
☐ Maintain correct spelling and grammar in all content.
☐ Check for and remove duplicate content.
4. User Experience (UX)
☐ Make your site fully mobile-friendly and responsive (test with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test).
☐ Simplify store navigation for better UX.
☐ Add a search bar with filters for large product catalogs.
☐ Show trust signals (security badges, payment icons, guarantees).
☐ Optimize the checkout process to reduce friction and form fields.
☐ Avoid intrusive pop-ups that harm UX.
5. Off-Page SEO
☐ Connect your site to social media profiles and link back.
☐ Add social sharing buttons to products and posts.
☐ Promote products on social media and encourage customer sharing.
☐ Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile.
☐ Build local citations for local SEO.
☐ Submit your store to Google Merchant Center.
☐ List your store in reputable online directories.
☐ Pursue backlinks from niche-relevant, high-quality sites.
☐ Use YouTube videos to showcase products and link back.
6. Tracking & Optimization
☐ Track SEO performance with analytics tools (Google Analytics, GSC).
☐ Monitor keyword rankings and adjust strategy accordingly.
☐ Test site speed regularly (PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix) and fix slowdowns.
☐ Monitor bounce rate and time on page to improve engagement.
☐ Regularly verify and fix sitemap errors.
☐ Re-submit updated sitemaps to Google Search Console.
If you like, I can now prioritize this grouped list so you know which tasks to tackle first for the biggest ranking gains. That would turn this into a real step-by-step SEO plan.
Do you want me to prepare that priority version?
